As the tennis world gears up for the electrifying atmosphere of the US Open at Flushing Meadows, all eyes are on Coco Gauff, the 2023 champion and the highest-paid female athlete in the world. But this year, it seems her heart might be more captivated by reality TV drama than forehands and backhands. The 21-year-old American tennis superstar has confessed to an unexpected obsession: Love Island USA. Could it be that the Grand Slam is just a backdrop for her to connect with her favorite reality TV stars?
While most athletes spend their summers fine-tuning their game, Gauff has been glued to her screen, binge-watching the seventh season of Love Island USA, which aired on Peacock from June 3 to July 13. Set in a sun-soaked villa in Fiji, the show featured up to 30 contestants vying for love, drama, and the coveted title of winners. Dominican-American cardiac nurse Amaya Espinal, 25, from New York City, and Boston-based financial accountant Bryan Arenales, 28, emerged victorious, stealing the spotlight in the finale.
Gauff, however, is already looking forward to the special reunion episode airing on August 25, perfectly timed before her first-round match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic on Tuesday. “Love Island is really the only reality show I have gotten into,” Gauff admitted with a laugh. “I tried Temptation Island, but I was like, ‘This is just dumb. Who goes on a show with your boyfriend?’ Love Island took up my whole summer, quite literally.”
So enamored is Gauff with the show that she’s been toying with the idea of inviting cast members to watch her compete at the US Open. “I’m trying to work up the courage to invite one or two of them to a match,” she revealed, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and nervousness. “But I don’t know. I don’t have the courage.” Could the roar of the Flushing Meadows crowd be overshadowed by Gauff’s starstruck moment if her reality TV idols show up?
As if her Love Island obsession wasn’t enough to raise eyebrows, Gauff dropped a bombshell just hours before the US Open’s start: she parted ways with her coach, Matthew Daly, and brought on Gavin McMillan, a coach renowned for refining Aryna Sabalenka’s powerhouse serve. The decision, Gauff explained, was sudden but strategic. “Gavin became available, and I felt this was the best decision for my game,” she said. “Matt is a great coach and a great person, but I’m looking at the long term.”
Gauff’s confidence in her new coach stems from her ambition to evolve her playing style. “I know where I want to see my game in the future,” she said. “I’m not going to waste time playing the way I don’t want to play.” With a French Open title, back-to-back finals, and a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open already under her belt, Gauff is clearly aiming for more than just another trophy—she’s chasing a legacy.
The US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year, is notorious for its surprises. Over the past 11 years, 10 different women have claimed the title, with Japan’s Naomi Osaka being the only repeat champion (2018 and 2020). Gauff herself made history in 2023, defeating Sabalenka 2–6, 6–3, 6–2 to claim her first US Open crown. However, her title defense last year ended in the Round of 16 against fellow American Emma Navarro.
This year, the stakes are higher than ever. The winner on September 6 will walk away with a record-breaking $5 million in prize money, a fitting reward for conquering one of tennis’s most unpredictable tournaments. Will Gauff rise to the occasion, or will her Love Island dreams distract her from glory?
Gauff’s charm lies in her ability to balance her fierce competitiveness with her relatable, down-to-earth personality. While she’s a titan on the court, her love for “trashy” reality TV makes her just like the rest of us. Whether she’s smashing serves or daydreaming about meeting the Love Island cast, Gauff is proving she’s more than just a tennis prodigy—she’s a cultural phenomenon.